ZERO-I, a new coating technology that achieves outstanding improvements in resistance to wear and heat

Seavac has been researching the conventional coating technologies using TiN, Ti-Al, and CrN, and developed ZERO-I, a new coating that combines the advantages of all three.

"The hardness is about 3,500 HV. This coating is heat-resistant to over 1,000 degrees. Conventional Ti-Al coatings were heat-resistant to nearly 900 degrees, but this coating has even better heat resistance, and hardness as well."

ZERO-I boasts a hardness of 3,500 HV, and can be applied as a coating at least 4 μm thick. Consequently, it achieves outstanding improvements in resistance to wear and heat, making it suitable for blank dies, warm forging, and cold forging. Seavac also envisages utilizing ZERO-I for hot forging and press-dies.

Seavac offers ZERO-I processing at three centers: Sendai, Amagasaki, and Komaki. It's also considering extending this coating service to other centers.

"About two years have passed since we started providing ZERO-I in Japan, and its reputation in Japan has grown. We also have a subsidiary in the US, and its customers have asked if we'll offer a similar service to ZERO-I there. We're currently considering that, and we'd like to develop ZERO-I through our US subsidiary, too."

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